DEA agent arrested for participating in Capitol riots

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agent Mark Sami Ibrahim was arrested Tuesday and charged on several accounts for his participation in the Capitol riots on January 6.

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Image Credit: Department of Justice

Caught on video and in multiple photos with his DEA badge and gun exposed while participating in the Capitol riots on January 6, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agent Mark Sami Ibrahim was arrested Tuesday and charged with making false statements, entering restricted grounds with a firearm, climbing on a statue, and violating Capitol Grounds security with possession of a firearm.

Shortly after 1 p.m. on January 6, Ibrahim arrived at the Capitol building and posed for several photos while flashing his DEA badge and gun, which had previously been hidden under his shirt. According to the criminal complaint, Ibrahim was a probationary DEA agent who had been on leave after giving notice of his intention to resign several weeks prior to January 6.

Around 2 p.m., Ibrahim posted a video and several more photos of himself posing with his DEA badge and firearm to a WhatsApp chat group composed of at least five other law enforcement officers. At approximately 2:30 p.m., one of the officers in the chat group asked, “Question Mark, you are carrying your duty weapon and your badge/creds? I need to know this mark.”

Fifteen minutes after U.S. Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt was shot by a law enforcement officer inside the Capitol building, Ibrahim and his friend posted a video of EMS personnel transporting Babbitt within steps of them before loading her into an ambulance. Shortly after 3 p.m., Ibrahim climbed up onto the Peace Monument and recorded a video of himself giving a monologue.

During an interview with federal investigators on March 15, Ibrahim admitted to being at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, but he denied flashing his DEA badge and gun while on Capitol Grounds. Ibrahim also told investigators that his friend invited him to the Capitol because his friend had been asked by the FBI to record the event.

But according to Ibrahim’s friend, the FBI never asked him to record the event. Ibrahim’s friend told investigators that Ibrahim fabricated the story in an effort to “cover his ass” and wanted to use the Capitol riots to launch a political podcast and cigar brand after leaving the DEA.

On Tuesday, Ibrahim was arrested and charged with making false statements; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a firearm; step or climb on, remove, or in any way injure any statue; and violating Capitol Grounds and buildings security with possession of a firearm.

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